New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-28
ART NEWS AND COMMENTS.
THE WEEK IN ART CIRCLES.

closed on Saturday has been successful although tho
sales tall short those of last year. expected
in view Of the greater number OF pictures In last years
exhibition. The socetSs wise course of selection has
gained tor 1t added measure of respect and conn.
dence and will prove advantageous in The long rum
The attendance indicated by the sale OF over 900
tickets exceeded that OF last year when 5000 tickets
were sold and that of 1885 At this exhibition about
1876 pictures have been sold for nearly $2l 800 The
record for tho last few years is $32 900 In 1881,
S33 600 IN 1852. $4,000 in 1888, 5000 in 1884.
10000 in 1885, and nearly $2s, In 1886. AZ
the exhibition of 1882 the most successful financially
the sales of etchhgs amounted to $4,000. Last year
these sales reached 81 500 Improvement upon tho
year before This year 1853 etchings have been sold
tor 81, 800.
The number of Special exhibitions Of American
paintings is still increasing. Mr.. W. NJ Chases oils
water coors and pastcls are exhibited at the gallery
of W. p Moore & Co. Mr.. Charles Sprague Pearce's
large painting "A Shepherdess. Souvenir OF PIcsrdy
is sho In the gallery of Messrs keichard Co., and
pie ture OF impressive size by xr. Ward DC Lanfey
paintinhs by Mr. WbiItredge and the late W. Is.
baker will be held shortly. Next month Mcssrs:
Reichard Co. will show collection OF paintings ana
studies By Mr. c. ii. Davis, to be followed In April by
an exhibition OF several paintings and studies by the
late George Fuller. Meantime further opportunities
t Sas a NO. West
Fitty-ffth-st. on March 4,wben Messrs T. W Shields:
w. H. Lppincott, Arthur Beckwith, l. *. Wiles and
X. d. Snurtleff will open their studies
card tor private view I" OF the statuary at the
Stewart house on February %" has been issued,
but no explanation is offered tor tho apparent post
one nent oil tue view until leap year or 1888 Tie
date intended is probably March i or Tuesday These
who visit the house will find hall clock OF most elab-
crate construction ana considerable collection a
statuary. The prevalent influence illustrated is mod
ern Italian. of which Mr. X. H. Park has furnished
some unnspiriing examples. Tue work OF earlier
date includes examples OF Crawford. sculptor of
some native force, of Harriet HoSmer and OF Hiram
Powers, who Is represented by one Of tue repcs OF
the Greek Slave which 20 f,vorably impressed the
last generation. There are also statues by some
Italian artists and others.
Ii is pleasant TO hear OF increased interest in the
classes of the National Academy OF Design amorg
academcians pupils and outsiders The pred elton is
made that 10 short time these schools will be as well
equipped an, the country and 1t is to be hoped
1a, cue L,1o. u, ina, he schooi. are more room AMI
heter collections When the Academy takes posses
zion OF the hDrse the west OF the present building
much ampler quarters will be provided tor the stu
dcnts Meantime there have hccn such symptoms Of
greater animation rs the establishment OF a modelling
class and To cite q more recent instance Mr. y. ID.
Millets admirable lectures upon Greek and Roman
costume Mr. Millcts treatment OF this subject at the
Union League Club few years since was found most
interesting by lsymen. and his accurate know ledge
and clear explanations illustrated by draped models
should prove suggestive aud instructive IN the highest
degree to students of at. Ii may be hoped that lec
ures upon subjects pertaining 10 general culture and
not purely technical may be frequently given al the
Academy. Something has been done also 10 increase
the schools collections. Messrs f. A; Bridgman and
| W
studies to the Academy Tor the benefit OF the pupils.
The American students OF the Munich Academy Of
Fine Arts who have made similar donations Tor Ike
purpose are Messrs K. A. Leigh Henry B. Nechler,
Samuel Richards aud Robert Eicbeiherger. hr. Il.
Beru nd, pupil OF tie National Academy h's pre-
sentcd study by Giebner. Ii IL expected that tho
collection will be llrgely increased this yeir
All this brings up the question again whether there
is not too much division OF forces in the art schools and
art soc cites of the cit,. There hall dozen public
art schools. Some like the Cooper UoIon, the
Gotham Art Students" and the Metropolitan Museum
schools. we're established tor soecial purposes but
there remain three academic schools. all attempting
with equipments I'm worthy OF the metropolis 70
accomplish the same result. II union Is strength II -
worth while TO consider whe her combination OF
forces mi mt not be advantageous. The question 10
also suggested by the announcement that the society
OF American Artists is to hold an exhibition at tith-
gallery this spring. whether continuance OF sep
arate exhibitions IL profitable. This society has conc
good and Tor some years 1t held exhibitions OF much
finer quality than those at the Academy. But since
1884 the society has been practically out OF the run
ming" The Causes OF its loss ia iueDce rot m
portant but the oeiety after ore iasco dropped
ont Tor ,ear, fatal course and reenterod the field
lind IL we'll occupied by two oil exhibitions and 70
be compelled TALL back upon interesting but mis-
cellaneous collection OF oils, pa>tels and water eolOrs
which sheved at the museum: There is not
enough material tor three strong OIL exhibitions OF
fresh work the same time II does not appear That
any distinct peneht is to be conferred NJ on american
ART by the society maintenan- e of scpa,ate organ
ization and Of an attitude of more or les, aatagoDsm
TO the Academy. Tue Academy stands IN need OF
many changes, that is conceded. But the point Is
whether more good cannot be done 10 American art
within the Academy than without. The Academy
furnishes a substantial working basis, and il should
represent the united interests Il the older and younger
men. A little more lberality on one side and posi-
bly, little less sell suihcieney ON the other l-hs
accomplish this result
The pictures sold in the last week OF the Watercoor
Exhibition are the Russet Season. |. +. Murphy,
$50; Early Morning. IL. w. Ranger. Sl25i
MSrnpg," D. W iryon, $i7o me- iGe Fi s Cup
Frosty Morning" j. X. Stiles. $50 The Wreck"
NJ l.. Mclaughlin, $50; Dutch Fishing Boats
Carlton Chapman go u Francs E,e.'qs
Church." +. A. Francis. S35 Near Apnisquam,'
IL. %. Jones, $50; An April Day." so md : u
Chateau. 80. w. j. Nhttemore, ana AayROWefs,'
II. l.. IL. Ward, SIS.
In recent private letter. quotation from which is
permitted, NJ. Felix Buhoz. a French artist and
etchcr writes as follows concerning American maya.
zine illustration I" The wood engravers are marvel
lous whom YOU have IN NewfV and v no NIL The
Century and Uorpers with masterpieces
hat delicious illustrations are those OF Abbey, Par
sons Pyne who has nothing this yeal Renhart and
that Alfred trederoks whom | see tor the first
time la The White Garden, aud do not forget
Joseph pennel with his char ming drawings OF Chel-
sea which recall pleasant ioiterngs there IN Old,
so nice Chelsea where myself have essayed few
sketches | am ashamed 10 say II. but we have moth
ing in France which can be compared with these Two
beautiful ma games We have not an Illustrated ke-
view or an artist ina nation able TO produce at lib
crty Oar journals value only vulgar actually
ltea ism q which STILES all Imagination"
Last year visitors to Baltimore found tho "St
Sebastian" Of Corot among the more recent
evidences OF Dir. Walterss appreciation OF
.erious art Every year additions testify
to the persistent and wisely directed enthusiasm of
the collector. Those who visit the galleries in tho
course of the present season will find among the latest
ACQUISITIONS Delaoroix's Christ the Cross" which
IL known by reputation at least to most amateurs Mr.
Walters already possessed Delacroixs q" Combat"
splendid personcation OF conflict, which shows two
Arabs red upon white and roam horses dashing
together in the shock OF battle while the horses lash
nj ,,nlfa too rat en-
one rider floats backward in grand curves. The
Christ on the Cross" picture twenty six by thirty
three inches, dated 1916 was one of the " Hundred
Masterpieces" exhibited in Paris In 1888 Oh this
Albert Wolf wrote: when Deiacroix paints the
magnificent Christ upon the Cross. unvas hch APP
pears as one OF tho capital masterpieces OF the oAhi
ton which rcckoncd many, II is the supreme drama
which inspires him. what he desires TO render is tho
grand oruie OF the crucixion ana MOI the cfucined